Pad retaining device



Sept. 2, 1947. A. w. WHITEFORD" PAD RETAINING DEVICE Filed Dec. 51, 1946 INVENTOR. .17. W W]: it/0rd BY Patented Sept. 2, 1947 "Alexander WZWIlfit'eford,"New York;

Application December 31, 1946;:seriarnamiaieea 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a device or appliance to be applied to a toe of a foot or a finger of a hand for retaining a medicated pad or wad of cotton on an infected or sore portion of said toe or finger.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a device which does not require the use of adhe-y sive to removably secure the device on a toe or finger and overcomes the disadvantages of devices employing adhesive now in commercial use which cause irritation of the skin while on the toe or finger and laceration of the skin when removed from the toe or finger.

It is another object of the invention to provide a one piece device of this character produced from a web of suitable material by a single stamping operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the detailed description of the invention.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a, part of this application,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the toe portion of a foot and showing by improved device applied to a toe thereof in medicated pad retaining position.

Figure 2 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of said device in extended fiat condition.

Figure 3 is a side edge view of the device looking at the right hand side of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view of the device applied to a toe or finger and the end portions in interlocking engagement with each other and portions of the device in section.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 2 but on a smaller scale than said Figure 2 and showing the end portions of greater length to permit a double interlocking of the end portions with each other.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 4 and showing the device shown in Figure 5 applied to a toe or finger.

In Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the embodiment of the invention comprises a strip stamped from a web of suitable pliable material, such as fabric or plastic sheet, and having a center portion I arranged with a center opening 8. Like end portions 9 and II] are integral with and extended from diametrically opposite sections of the center portion and arranged with like slits I I and I2, respectively, extending along the longitudinal center of the strip and terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the strip and the center center portion I is engaged on a medicated pad or wad of cotton, indicated at p in Figures 1 and 4, applied to an infected or sore portion of the toe, the opening 8 centering the center portion I and pad 12 relative to each other. The end portions 9 and ID are extended from the center portion I in opposite directions and around the toe until they meet when either of said end portions is passed through the slit in the other end portion and the opposite end portions drawn in the direction in which they extend from the center portion to place the strip under tension and said tensional force of the strip retaining the engaged end portion in the slit. The material of the end portion engaged in the slit extending from said slit will be bunched against the material bordering the slit and also tend to retain the strip under tension in toe encircling position. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the end portion 9 is engaged in the slit I2 of the end portion I0 and the end portions 9 and II! are drawn'in the same direction in which they extend from the center portion I to place the strip under tension with the extremities of the end portions 9 and I 0 extended over the opposite end portions Ill and 9, respectively, as shown at I3 and I4 in Figures 1 and 4.

The interlocking engagement of the end portions 9 and Ill may be reversed to that hereinbefore described by engaging the extremity I I of the end portion I0 in the slit II of the end portion 9 and the extremities I3 and I4 extending in the same manner as that shown in Figures 1 and 4.

Figures 5 and 6 show a device similar to the device shown in Figures 1 .to 4, inclusive, except that the end portions I-5 and I6 are of greater length than the end portions 9 and III, and the slits I! and I8 are proportionally longer than the slits II and I2. The center portion I9 is of the same size and shape as the center portion I and arranged with a center opening 20 for centering the pad p relative to said center portion I9.

In applying the device shown in Figures 5 and 6, the center portion I9 is engaged on a pad 10 applied to an infected or sore portion of a toe t andthe end portions I5 and I6 are extended in opposite directions around the toe and one end portion is passed through the slit in the other end portion and then subsequently the second end portion is passed through the slit in the first end portion and both end portions are drawn in the direction in which they were originally extended from the center portion I9 to place the strip under tension. As shown in Figure'fi, the end portion I5 is first passed through the slit I8 in the end portion l6, as at 2|, and then subsequently the end portion I6 is passed through the slit i! in the end portion l5, as at 2|, and the extremities of the end portions l6 and I6 are extended, as shown at 22 and 23, respectively.

The strips as shown in Figures 2 and 5 may also be applied to a finger of a hand as well as to a, toe as shown in the drawing, and said strips are stamped from a web of fabric or, sheet plastic material by a single stroke of a die arranged to simultaneously sever the strip from the web and form the opening 8 or 20 and the slits H, l2 or I1, 18 in said strip.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A pad retaining device consisting of a strip of pliable material having a center portion to engage a pad. applied on a toe and end portions V 4 V 7 adapted to be extended in opposite directions around the toe, and each end portion being arranged with a slit extending longitudinally thereof for the passage of one end, portion through the slit in the opposite end portion to pull the strip taut and secure the strip on the toe in pad retaining position.

ALEXANDER W. WHITEFORD.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Wheat Oct. 12, 1858 

